What resources are recommended for managing chronic conditions?

Recommended Resources for Managing Chronic Conditions

Patient education and self-management support tools are essential resources for effectively managing chronic conditions, as they empower individuals to understand their conditions and actively participate in their care, improving clinical outcomes and quality of life. 1

Educational Resources

• Provide materials that help patients recognize chronic conditions (cardiovascular, diabetes, kidney disease) as long-term conditions requiring ongoing management 1
• Offer information about specific conditions, potential complications, and vascular risks to increase patient understanding 1
• Include resources that explain risk factor monitoring (blood pressure, glucose, lipids, kidney function) and expected examinations 1
• Develop "Know Your Numbers" resources that help patients understand key health metrics and their target values 1
• Ensure educational materials are tailored to appropriate health literacy levels 1
• Deliver education incrementally rather than overwhelming patients with all information at once 1

Self-Management Tools

• Provide resources that support healthy eating patterns emphasizing vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains, and lean protein 1
• Include tools for tracking and limiting sodium intake (<2,300 mg/day) and processed meats 1
• Offer resources for monitoring and reducing refined carbohydrates and sugar-sweetened beverages 1
• Develop materials supporting smoking cessation, including pharmacological options and behavioral strategies 1
• Create tools to track physical activity, aiming for 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week 1
• Recommend apps and wearable devices to motivate and monitor physical activity 1

Technology-Based Resources

• Implement telehealth and digital health options to improve access to care, especially for rural or dense urban populations 1
• Utilize patient portals to foster longitudinal follow-up and participation in care programs 1
• Consider short-term continuous glucose monitoring for patients with diabetes to understand food and exercise impacts 1
• Leverage mobile health applications that support self-management behaviors 1
• Develop digital tools that both inform patients and activate them to take action, as this combination has shown greater effectiveness 1

Social Support Resources

• Provide referrals to community-based resources for affordable food options to support healthy diet 1
• Connect patients with affordable and safe recreational facilities to promote physical activity 1
• Offer resources for addressing social determinants of health that impact chronic disease management 1, 2
• Include information about insurance subsidies for coverage of services and medications to support adherence 1
• Consider involving community health workers to support management of chronic conditions, especially in underserved communities 2

Shared Decision-Making Tools

• Develop resources that elicit patient priorities and encourage belief that patients can control health outcomes 1
• Create tools that emphasize early and aggressive treatment when appropriate 1
• Provide question prompts that facilitate open-ended discussions between patients and providers 1
• Include decision aids that clearly explain which treatments alleviate symptoms versus those that reduce ischemic events 1

Implementation Considerations

• Focus on resources that both inform and activate patients, as this combination has shown greater effectiveness in improving outcomes 1
• Ensure resources address the most common chronic conditions: obesity (25.5%), depression (21.3%), and high blood pressure (10.7%) 3
• Recognize that certain populations need more intensive support, particularly those with disabilities and the unemployed 3
• Consider that different chronic conditions impact quality of life differently; musculoskeletal, neurological, and renal conditions often have the most adverse effects 4
• Tailor resources to address health disparities, as chronic diseases disproportionately affect low-resource communities 5

Pitfalls to Avoid

• Avoid focusing solely on education without activation components, as awareness alone is insufficient for behavior change 1
• Don't recommend non-prescription supplements (omega-3, vitamins C, D, E, beta-carotene, calcium) as they have not shown benefit for cardiovascular events 1
• Avoid recommending trans fats, as they are associated with increased morbidity and mortality 1
• Don't rely on pharmacotherapy alone for conditions like obstructive sleep apnea, as it can cause serious adverse effects 1
• Avoid judgmental approaches when discussing lifestyle modifications 1
• Don't attempt to cover all educational topics in a single visit, as this can overwhelm patients 1